Voyage of Slaves Page 29
From the realms of merciful slumber, the boy replied, “My faithful Ned, I can hear you. Where is she now?”
Crawling to Ben’s side, Ned placed his cheek against the boy’s arm. “She rests in the grounds of Santa Filomena, in the shade of an almond tree. The troupe and the Sisters laid her there in peace. It was a simple ceremony. The Rizzolis wanted to take us both with them to Vicenza, in Italy. Kostas gave them gold to buy a dairy farm there. I think our friends will be happy with their new life. But Mother Carmella and Kostas both agreed that you and I should not go along with the troupe, too many painful memories for us there. I lay at Serafina’s graveside, watching them go off in their old battered cart, with Poppea pulling it. I knew that we would be going with Kostas, because that night I heard the angel’s message. ‘Now the Dark Angel has fallen, you must go from here.’ So, here we are, back at sea once more.”
The dog’s thoughts faded from Ben’s mind as his thoughts drifted back. He recalled Serafina as she spoke to him that last afternoon they were together.
“I will never forget you. If you go I will stay here forever!”
Did she know what was going to happen?
Through the enveloping darkness, a soft light began to shine. It grew until it filled the boy’s whole being. There was the angel, tall and imposing. The celestial vision had placed both hands upon the shoulders of a girl. It was Serafina! Ben spoke her name loud.
“Serafina.”
The soft, gentle eyes smiled at him. “I will always be with you. Do not grieve, I will wait until you join me one day. Be at peace.”
A calmness descended upon Ben, a tranquility of spirit he had never known before.
From cloudless azure vaults the great, golden eye of the sun shone down on the sea below. It saw the ship, a small, blue-sailed, weather-beaten craft. On the fo’c’sle deck, a boy and his dog lay sleeping, side by side. Orphans of the seas, bound through the years to only the Lord knows where. Waiting for the angel’s command. Always waiting.
From the New York Times
bestselling author of the Redwall series
Brian Jacques
Castaways of the Flying Dutchman
The Angels Command
“Vivid...Haunting.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Bold and brilliant...
The emotional impact is powerful
and unforgettable.”
—Lloyd Alexander
Available wherever books are sold or at
penguin.com
AD-B000
1
Shaitan (Satan).
2
Eblis (hell).
3
Fräulein (lady).
4 Bella ragazza (beautiful girl).
5
Jezzail (the eastern flintlock rifle).
6
Cathay (China).
7 Janissary (a soldier of a sultan’s guard).
8
Ja, mein Herr (yes, sir).
9 Mädchen (maiden).
10
Piccina (child).
11
Bella mia (my beauty).
12 Grazie, amico (thank you, friend).
13
Caro (dear).
14
Commendatore (commander).
15
Ghigno (pronounced Jeenyoh).
16
Slovenija (Slovenia).
17
Cara mia (my dear).
18
Mein Schatzi (my treasure).
19
Kleines Mädchen (little maiden).
20
Dummkopf (stupid).
21 Verstanden (understood).
22
Mein Freund (my friend).
23
Addio (good-bye).
24
See Castaways of the Flying Dutchman.
25
Bella fanciulla (beautiful young girl).
26
Piazza (the town square).
27
L’chaim (long life).
28
Bella mia (my beauty).
29
Sehr gut, Mädchen (very good, miss).
30
Morte (dead).
31
Guardia (police).
32
See The Angel’s Command.
33
Venezia (Venice).
34
Che bella (how lovely).
35
Sansone (Italian—Samson).
36
See Castaways of the Flying Dutchman.